This dining room used to be a part of the garage that [the Samartans] had converted to add more livable square footage to their home and I was brought onto the project to bring life into the space. First thing was first, deciding on what this room would be. We tinkered with the idea of a sitting room, but since they already had a living room in the home, Stacia and Phil wanted a space that would be more useful, so we decided that a formal dining room would be the best decision

My advice is to consult with the pros. I collaborated on this room with my good friend and interior designer Autumn Clemons. I knew what I wanted, but she took my vision to the next level. Wallpapering the tray ceiling never occurred to me, and now it’s one of my favorite parts of the room. Having someone with the training and design eye in your corner can keep you from making costly mistakes and really make any project a show-stopper. I think there’s a misconception that hiring a designer is a huge expense. But these days, there are so many talented designers offering e-services, it’s really affordable for any budget.

Basic Steps: In the dining room, we tore out a faux stone wall and replaced it with sheetrock, primed and painted the walls (Behr Ultra Pure White), sanded and refinished the floors, switched out the overhead light, and replaced all of the electrical outlets. We still have to paint the radiators and finish the cushion for the window seat.
Tape your to-do list to the front door, line up good babysitters, always have cold beer on hand, and don’t listen to the naysayers who stop by to comment on your project and drink all of your cold beer.